LOUIS VAN GAAL insists his philosophy is still "working" as he enters a make-or-break week for Manchester United's season - and his own future.

Louis van Gaal's Man United could face an exit from two cup competitions within the next six days

The Dutchman came in for renewed criticism from fans and former players after United's abject Europa League defeat at Anfield.

The grim faces of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and other directors as they digested Thursday's capitulation suggested their patience is reaching breaking point. And three games in the next eight days will determine whether they snap.

If United lose to their FA Cup quarter-final to in-form West Ham tomorrow, then fail to turn round the 2-0 deficit in their second leg with Liverpool on Thursday, any hope of putting a silver lining on a troubled season will have disappeared.

And if they follow up by losing the Manchester derby at the Etihad next Sunday, then the faint hopes a top four place and qualification for next season's Champions League will effectively have been dashed too.

That nightmare scenario would surely prompt the Glazer family, United's owners, to order Woodward to fire the bullet, put Ryan Giggs in charge to the end of the season and press ahead with the appointment of Jose Mourinho.

Louis van Gaal arrives at training after Liverpool defeat

Fri, March 11, 2016

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal arrives at Carrington training ground less than 24 hours after his side's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League

Van Gaal, of course, has been on the brink twice before this season and survived.

The first occasion was when a dismal December bottomed out with a fourth consecutive defeat at Stoke on Boxing Day; and then when they lost to Danish minnows Midtyjlland in the first leg of the last 32 round of the Europa League.

He remains confident he can turn it round a third time, although his cause will not be helped by Juan Mata's suspension tomorrow and the continuing absence of the talismanic Wayne Rooney.

Asked how much the next week will determine his future, he said: "I don't want to discuss it with you because you are not part of the people who will determine it."

As to whether he thinks his 'plan' is working, he replied: "Yes, I do think it is working. The style is also working. If you look at the performance at Anfield it is not good enough if you want to be champions, or win the FA Cup or Europa League.

"But when you analyse what we have done this season and last season then you cannot say that it is not working.

"It [the defeat at Anfield] puts more pressure on us. But we are still in three competitions and not many of my [managerial] colleagues can say that. After the defeat in Midtjylland you have 'sacked' me already and then we stood up and we got into the next round. And that is still possible against Liverpool.

"Against West Ham in the FA Cup it is also possible. At Old Trafford we normally win our games.

"It is possible that we are going out and then it would be a very difficult situation for everybody but still we have the chance to win something and you have to believe in that."

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic has some sympathy for the beleaguered Van Gaal, believing United's biggest problem is the lack of a world class goal scorer.

"If you see the names that played up front for them under Ferguson, they were either at a better age or were bigger names or better goal scorers," he said. "They don't have a Van Nistelrooy, or a Ronaldo or an Aguero. And Rooney is injured.

"He has some really young, talented players who are definitely going to be that but they are not that consistent because of their age and because of the situation - it is very hard to be confident if you are a Manchester United player."

Bilic, however, is worried about a backlash from a team who he says will be like "wounded lions".

He said: "Every time they have been down they have bounced back. We are expecting a better United than we saw on Thursday."

In truth, it would be hard to get any worse. And if United do not improve then Van Gaal will edge closer to the brink.